Pasta With Vegan Cashew Cream Tomato Sauce

Ingredients Needed

• pasta of choice
• raw cashews
• strained tomatoes (can use canned tomatoes)
• garlic
• thyme
• oregano
• fresh basil
• olive oil
• red pepper flakes (optional, but recommended if you like a little kick)
• salt
• pepper

How To Make Pasta With Cashew Cream Tomato Sauce

Before you start making this recipe, you want to make sure that you soak the cashews in water for at least 4 hours. I find I remember to do this best the night before I make a recipe using them!

NOTE: if you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix (linked the one I use), you can get away without soaking the cashews for as long. Simply cover them in boiling hot water when you start prepping the rest of the ingredients, and let them soak until you need to use them.

Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil and cooking pasta according to package directions. You can use any shape of pasta you like – rigatoni, penne, etc.

While the pasta cooks, make the tomato sauce by adding the following ingredients into your blender: soaked cashews, strained or canned tomatoes, thyme, oregano, garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

If you like things a little spicier, I highly recommend adding some red pepper flakes, too!

Blend all ingredients together until smooth in creamy. If using a high-speed blender, this should only take about a minute. If you’re not, you may have to add a bit of additional liquid until it reaches your desired consistency.

Finally, drain the pasta and return to the pot. Stir in the creamy tomato sauce and serve!

My Go-To Blender

Vitamix Blender

I use this Vitamix almost every day. I bought it about 7 years ago and it still functions perfectly. It makes super smooth and creamy sauces, soups, and smoothies in seconds!

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How To Store Leftovers

If you know you’ll have leftovers of this recipe, I recommend storing the leftover pasta and leftover sauce separately.

The reason for this is that the pasta tends to soak up/absorb some of the sauce when left for a long time. It’ll still taste good, but it’ll be less sauce-like and creamy!

Store both the pasta and the sauce in airtight containers in the fridge. The leftovers will keep for 3-5 days.

Another helpful tip? Toss the leftover plain pasta in a little olive oil before you store it. This will help prevent it from sticking together.

Health Benefits of Cashews

Cashews are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which are known to promote heart health.

Cashews are also a source of protein, which provides the building blocks for every cell in your body. Together, fat and protein will help to keep you feeling full and satisfied.

Cashews are also rich in essential micronutrients like:

• magnesium (important for proper nerve + muscle function and healthy bones)
• iron (essential for synthesizing hemoglobin + transporting oxygen throughout the body)
• vitamin B6 (involved in many metabolic reactions in your body)

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a great source of:

• micronutrients, including vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.
• dietary fibre
• antioxidants, like lycopene and beta-carotene.